What truly special can I offer to my Valentine?

Source

If you still haven't decided (small remainder - Valentine's day
is tomorrow!) how to express your affection to your loved one, you might find a small clue how to do it here.

The first question to ask yourself is: what do I want that my beloved person to remember of this day?

As research showed, positive autobiographical memories enhance the intimacy (warmth & closeness) in the relationship. Therefore, the basic idea for your Valentine's Day plan should be developed around experiencing and not necessarily material stuff.

But do not worry, if you have already bought something, you are not encouraged to throw away a prepared gift, especially because material things can possess some characteristics of the experiences. For example, when a gift has inscribed positive emotions to it, it will not land on the shelf being abandoned and insignificant. However, investing in experiences can provide you and your loved one with everlasting happy memories, additionally with the special feeling of connectedness and intimacy between us.

As the results of research run at San Francisco State University by Dr. Ryan Howell displayed, spending money on experiences brings more satisfaction and happiness than buying material items does. One reason for this is that experiences engage other people, foster social bonds this way and satify the need of relatedness. What is more, experiences can be relived in your memory and also they are prone to revisionism, so you can manipulate your memories in the way to obtain even more happiness. The truth is that you do not have even to do it, as with the time your memories became more extreme (more positive or more negative, depends on primary affect valence).

Therefore, a romantic dinner, movie theater experience, ride on a carrousell, but also a walk by the seaside, or a conversation while observing the sunset, will stay within you for ever. Finally, both you and your Valentine will never be bored with them and have an experience to share with your friends and family.


Lastly, you won't regret that some experience has passed you by!

Source

Have a happy Valentine's Day!